Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Cap'n Kirk calls it quits

And then there were four.
A fourth opening for a play-by-play position has been created in the Western Hockey League after Kirk Fraser of the Kamloops Blazers officially announced that he is stepping aside after 11 years of calling games.

Jobs calling play-by-play are now available in Kamloops, Vancouver, Edmonton and Regina.
Prepared and passionate.
That may best describe what I witnessed from Kirk Fraser during his time in the Kamloops Blazers broadcast booth.
Let me point out that while the Blazers and Rockets were fierce rivals, the same couldn't be said for the relationship between the teams broadcasters.
Sure we waved our teams respective flags with pride, but once the game was over so were the battle lines.
I will always remember a game in Kamloops between the two teams with fight after fight, causing numerous stoppages. I looked over at Fraser after the sixth fight had concluded only to see him looking back at me jokingly with his fists clenched. It was like he was saying we were next in-line to get into a scrap.

Fraser will be missed.
He was responsible - or took the responsibility - for providing all 21 other broadcasters across the WHL with a player pronunciation guide at the start of each season. I, like many others, often twisted the names of some players and didn't follow the script, but Fraser was like a choir director wanting all of us (broadcasters) to sing from the same song sheet. Some of us, me included, just sang off key sometimes.
Fraser never called a winner.
During his time in the Blazers broadcast booth, first round exits were par for the course. But despite the struggles, Fraser was ever the optimist before the puck was dropped.
Isn't that what you want from your radio broadcaster? The belief that the home team can win every night?
Fraser was that type of broadcaster, a radio voice the Kamloops Blazers organization can be proud of.

6 comments:

bigkev said...

thank god, hes the biggest homer ever

Regan Bartel said...

I think we all are. He waved the Blazers flag and good on him. He knew where his bread was buttered and who is primary listeners were.

CA said...

bigkev should change his id to bigneg(ative)

bigkev said...

well regan atlest you tell the truth and talk about other teams and players, kirk talks like he bitter the blazers never wins and hates the world and everyone who not on the blazers.

Gord McGarva said...

Kirk was always professional towards myself and he will be missed by the Kamloops faithful. All the best Kirk !

stevedyer said...

Regan;

As a Blazers die hard fan and having steered the ship back at NL Control during many games for Kirk over the past 3 seasons, I will miss working with the him, he was easy going, passionate, and above all a role model for all young broadcasters to look up to. To that "bigkev" comment, Its easy to say ALL broadcasters are "homers" at some point, you need to ask yourself who's the hand that feeds? That's certainly not the opposing teams listening audience, its your own. I respect all WHL broadcasters for the job they do all the time spent on the road away from family. Regan I enjoy the class you've always shown in your blog. Thank you Kirk for everything you've done, and thanks Regan for allowing me to read this amazing blog everyday!